Chapter Text
There is a saying that if two people in love are out in the first falling snow of the year, then true love will blossom between them.
"In the afternoon, Seoul will experience low temperatures of -3 degrees Celsius, and we can expect to see the first fall of snow by tonight," the reporter speaks from the television hanging above Jeongguk. His ears perk at the news, and his head snaps up from his bowl of seolleongtang. Craning his neck to peer at the screen, Jeongguk stares earnestly at the reporter—who's pointing at the different areas of the country where snow has been forecasted—for a good minute before slamming his hand on the table and asking for a check.
Once he's made it out to the sidewalk, Jeongguk zips up his black padded coat to cover his cheeks, already flushed from the unforgiving wind, and shoves his clenched fists into his pockets to protect them from the bitter cold. First snow, Jeongguk wonders, will it bring me true love? His mind immediately wanders to a familiar face—someone who's eyes disappear when he smiles too hard, laughs with his entire body, and smiles like he could die tomorrow without a regret.
His feet advance on their own in the direction of the nearest holiday ornament store, and Jeongguk thanks the heavens that he had decided today to venture Gangnam. He had mapped out an entire plan a month ago to confess to his best friend and long-time crush, Jimin. They were attached at the hip since they were babies and had witnessed each other at their highest and lowest, and because of their intimate relationship, Jeongguk had been too scared about damaging it to consider confessing. The worries about how everything could go wrong in a matter of seconds, how everything they had done to solidify their friendship could shatter into pieces frightened him beyond imagination. But he has resolved to face the inevitable, and this year, he would finally do it. Give Jimin the ornament, confess, and hope for the best.
It's now a popular trend to buy holiday ornaments for your significant other as their Christmas gift, for ornaments are not what they were years before. They are enchanted—full of a glittery, magic powder that enables them to transform into the most desired present once in the hands of the person it has been gifted to.
Jeongguk is shivering when he opens the door to the holiday ornament store, and he sighs happily as the warm air gushes through the doorway and washes over him. The frozen tip of his nose tingles as the warmth melts the chill that had seeped into his bones. Bells chime as the door sways shut behind him, calming his nerves, and Jeongguk closes his eyes to breathe in the sweet scent of peppermint and the lax coming of snow drifting in the air.
He absorbs his surroundings carefully: a bustling crowd of spirited shoppers, glittering holiday lights draped across each row of encased ornaments, and the green-apron employees who are busy tending to each customer's needs. Jeongguk notices the vast diversity in design, from transparent ornaments of the utmost simplicity to opaque ornaments with ornate designs and a golden sheen. Everyone seems to have precise ideas about which ornament they wish to buy, and Jeongguk feels lost amidst the commotion. Despite the fact that he and Jimin had grown inseparable over the years, Jeongguk doesn't know Jimin's favorite color, let alone what sort of ornament to give him.
"Hello, welcome to First Love, is there anything specific you're looking for?" Jeongguk turns on his heels to find a grinning employee and notes the employee's exuberant smile, the brilliance rivaling the bright grapefruit-like shade of his hair.
"I'm looking for a holiday ornament. As a confession."
"Ah, how sweet! Please, follow me." The employee leads Jeongguk away from the restless crowd of people fawning over glamorous ornaments and towards a row of more modest ornaments that few seem to hold interest in.
"I've always liked these ornaments more," The employee explains as he motions towards the encased displays. "They're much simpler in design, but for a confession, I think simple is the way to go. If I was being confessed to, I'd feel pressured by a flamboyant gift." The employee looks at him expectantly, never losing the small but genuine smile gracing his lips.
"Thank you, I think I like these much more," Jeongguk says, reaching out to touch the plastic casing, which was cool under his fingertips. A certain ornament had captured his attention—a clear glass orb embedded with tiny pearls containing lavendar glitter.
"You're welcome! My name's Hoseok, and if you need any help, feel free to ask me!" The employee smoothes out his green apron before hurrying off to greet another customer, grapefruit hair swaying as he shakes his bangs out of his face.
Jeongguk holds the clear ornament, cradling it gently in the palms of his hands. It's as if the ornament is speaking to him, consoling him, telling him all will be well. It is a spur-of-the-moment decision, but Jeongguk finds himself in front of the cashier before he processes his own movements, still hugging the clear ornament to his chest.
The cashier's disinterested gaze bores into Jeongguk's skull as he says monotonously, "I hope you found everything you were looking for. Would you like to buy the ornament?"
Jeongguk blinks once, twice, before shoving the ornament in front of him, and the cashier raises an eyebrow as he swipes the plastic case over the barcode scanner. In the same apathetic voice, the cashier asks if he would like it gift wrapped, and Jeongguk stutters an agreement. There's something about the dark-haired cashier's eyes, cold and hard around the edges, that seem to penetrate his conscious, and it distresses Jeongguk, who has always prided himself in being unreadable.
"Did anyone help you today?" Disturbed by the cashier's unwavering gaze, Jeongguk hurriedly answers his question.
"Um, yes, his name was Hoseok." At the mention of the employee, the cashier's demeanor shifts. The change is barely noticeable, but the tight line of his shoulders eases and his gaze softens ever so slightly. Jeongguk knows what the reaction means; he's experienced it many times himself whenever a friend mentioned Jimin.
As Jeongguk swings open the tinkling door and slowly inhales the sharp scent of winter, he turns around one last time to embed the details of the holiday ornament shop in his mind. He has a vague feeling that he won't need to step foot into the lively shop for a long time.
Jeongguk hasn't quite determined what he's going to do next, but his body has already made its decision. His feet prompt him to move in the direction of Jimin's apartment, a place he knows better than his own home. He's positive that Jimin is holed up in his apartment, draped in layers of fluffy blankets with popcorn and watching some old chick flick. The image has him smiling, stretching his cheeks so much they ache despite the fact that they've become battered numb by the winds.
Wrapped up in relentless anxiety, Jeongguk doesn't notice he's right in front of Jimin's apartment until a gust of raw winter hits him in the face and drenches his bones. He gazes dazedly at the graying wall and wonders for a split second if he should give up. But the first wisps of snow are beginning to fall, gathering in his recently dyed hair and clothing the bushes in a pure coat, and he know if he loses the chance now, he won't possess another one for a long time.
He's been rocking back and forth on his heels in the biting chill for five minutes, but his fingers are already numb by the time he resolves to call Jimin. He blows on his reddened hands to warm them as he scrolls through his contacts and taps one titled 'chim♥︎' with a shaky finger.
In an attempt to rid himself of the butterflies swarming in his stomach, Jeongguk inhales and exhales so heavily that fat clouds of air linger around him. He's never been so nervous before; one ring stretches into an eternity, and Jeongguk unconsciously begins chewing his nails.
After five long-awaited rings, Jeongguk hears Jimin pick up the phone. "What's up, Gukkie? You usually text me before calling." Jeongguk's heartbeats get stuck in his chest at the sound of Jimin's voice and a second time in his throat at the affectionate nickname.
"Hi, hyung, hurry down. I'm in front of your apartment building," Jeongguk says, proud that he managed to sound calm despite the fact that his heart was slamming against his ribcage.
Jimin lets out an indignant sound. "Outside?" There's rustling on Jimin's side—what Jeongguk assumes is Jimin crawling out of his blanket den and drawing the curtains. There's a second inhumane sound, one that sounds like a strangled kitten.
"Holy shit, Guk, are you insane? It's snowing like a storm outside! Is that little gray dot you?"
"Yeah, the little gray dot is me. The little gray dot is also freezing his ass off waiting for you to come downstairs." Jeongguk pauses, then adds, "Wear a warm coat before you come, though. It's really cold."
"Yeah, I'm—holy shit, I'm going. At least get out of the snow, will you?" Jeongguk can hear Jimin hastily throwing on a coat and hangs up before Jimin can fuss some more.
Jeongguk heeds Jimin's advice and heads to the overhang, shrugging the white tufts of snow off his hair and shoulders. He tugs his coat tighter around his shoulders and crosses his arms over his chest, leaning on the glass door and tilting his head against the intercom.
Barely two minutes pass before Jimin is running out the glass door, bundled in a thick coffee-colored coat and a red scarf that Jeongguk recognizes as a Christmas gift that he had given Jimin years ago. Jimin's head whips back and forth as he frantically searches for Jeongguk, blonde fringe flopping over eyes wide with concern. Their eyes meet, Jimin's tense shoulders slump noticeably, and he lets out a long sigh—of relief or incredulity, Jeongguk isn't sure.
Jimin immediately stomps over and furiously swipes at the remaining snow scattered in Jeongguk's soft, brown hair. Jeongguk wordlessly watches him, his gaze melting into something more tender as Jimin's small hands dust off specks of snow from his coat. When Jimin looks up, his eyes are a mess of feelings, as if he can't decide which of his emotions are more important than the others.
Jimin is obviously battling with himself on what to say first, so Jeongguk speaks up. "I needed to tell you something. It was urgent."
"I don't care if it was urgent, you little shithead," Jimin grits out, seething. For a moment, Jeongguk freezes in his place because this is a tone Jimin rarely uses with him. It's a tone that appears only when Jimin is genuinely angry, so enraged beyond belief that his voice drops and each word sounds calculated and detached.
"I can't imagine why you would need to tell me anything in weather like this. You always check the weather, so there's no way you didn't know that there would be a goddamn snowstorm today. So why the hell—" Jimin cuts himself off with an exasperated sound, and silently unwraps the red scarf from around his neck.
Judging from his body language, Jimin is still very much irritated, but his movements are indulgent as he wraps the scarf around Jeongguk's neck. "You obviously need this much more than I do. How long have you been out in this weather?" Jimin asks quietly, his gaze softer than before.
"I walked here. From you know, the popular ornament store," Jeongguk says lamely. Jimin's eyelids flutter in disbelief.
"First Love? You walked here all the way from First Love? Are you crazy? That's at least a thirty minute walk, I can't believe you, I'm—" Jimin stops, crinkling his nose in distaste, and huffs, carding a hand through his messy blonde hair. Jeongguk grasps Jimin's moving wrist and Jimin looks up through his fringe, eyes narrowing to silently inspect Jeongguk's face for any hidden meaning.
Instead of an explanation, Jeongguk drags Jimin out into the snow, grinning as Jimin shrieks from the sudden attack of snow. "Oh my God, Jeon Jeongguk, what do you want? For me to freeze my ass off with you? Because I know we're best friends and everything, but I'm too young to die, you asshat!"
"I love you, too, hyung!" Jeongguk shouts back before dragging Jimin along to the playground right in front of the apartment complex. Jimin's half-hearted complaints are swallowed in the whistling wind, and Jeongguk tugs the scarf further up his face to shield it against the unbearable cold.
As soon as they arrive, Jimin tears away from Jeongguk's grasp, panting. Jeongguk snickers at the look of agony on Jimin's face, and he throws his head back to feel the frigid touch of snow on his face. He spins a couple times with arms open wide before crashing right into Jimin, and the freshly fallen snow cushions their tumble as they both land with an oomph.
Jimin whines about the snow sneaking into his coat, but his eyes are laughing, and Jeongguk's laugh along with him. "Jesus, I hate you," Jimin gasps, wiping at the corners of his eyes. The sun is already beginning to set, and it casts a warm glow on Jimin's face, making him look etheral.
"Love you, too, hyung," Jeongguk finishes. Silence falls upon them, but it's comfortable and familiar, something Jeongguk only feels around Jimin. He likes this, the intimacy they have, and fear creeps into his veins when it strikes him that they really could lose whatever intimacy they had around each other if the confession doesn't succeed. So he stays silent, opting to stare at the sky, which is bruised with purples and pinks.
Jimin is the first to break the silence. "Hey, so what did you have to tell me?" Jeongguk is close to telling him that it was nothing, no worries, just wanted to bother you, hyung. But when he shifts to look Jimin in the eye, he realizes that Jimin already knows what Jeongguk wants to say.
Jimin is an open book when it came to emotions, and Jeongguk is a tightly bound book with little space for expression. However, Jimin has always read Jeongguk best, and it seems like Jimin had read Jeongguk long before he had mustered the courage to speak.
"I... had a present for you. Christmas present. Since you're going down to Busan for Christmas while I stay here and I won't see you until New Year's." Jeongguk fumbles for a moment before pulling out the gift, nudging it in Jimin's direction.
Jimin takes it cautiously and unwraps it, and his eyes widen in surprise at the encased ornament. He begins to speak, but Jeongguk shushes him and nods at him to open the case.
As soon as the ornament falls into Jimin's hands, a white glow blossoms around it, causing both Jimin and Jeongguk to turn away from the blinding light. Once the glare subsides, they peer at the objects lying in Jimin's palm.
Two simple silver bands glitter from their place, and Jeongguk stares at them in disbelief. When he turns to catch a glimpse of Jimin's expression, he's mildly surprised to see Jimin's face practically in flames. Jeongguk had known a confession would take place today, but he hadn't expected the confession to be from Jimin rather than himself.
Jeongguk takes the rings into his own hands. "You... wanted me to propose to you?" Jeongguk asks cautiously, and Jimin's face gets even redder, if at all possible. He waves his hands frantically in front of him, sputtering.
"N-no! I mean, this was supposed to happen way in the future? I think? Dating comes first, right? And then marriage? I—We're still friends, how could I expect something like that from you, are you joking?" Jimin's eyes are pleading Jeongguk to believe him, and the fact that he looks like an absolute doppelgänger of the Cat in Boots from Shrek squeezes a chuckle from Jeongguk's chest.
"The marriage is off," Jeongguk says, and after he notices how Jimin's expression crumbles, he adds, "For now." Jimin raises an eyebrow, a familiar expression amongst the strange waters that they're learning to explore.
"I like you, hyung, really. But I think you've already noticed that." Jimin interrupts him.
"You made it more obvious than my third-grade nephew who tells me about his crush on the pretty fourth-grader next door every time he calls me." It's Jeongguk's turn to figuratively burst into flames, and he's grateful that his ears and cheeks are already stained crimson from the cold.
"Alright, then, since you already knew, date me maybe?" Jeongguk couldn't find it in him to look Jimin in the eye, knowing Jimin would be able to instantaneously read him. When Jimin doesn't respond, he sheepishly peeks at Jimin to find him leaning to one side with arms crossed over his chest.
"Maybe if you ask it in a romantic way," Jimin deadpans. "That is literally the worst confession I've ever heard. Do it like the dramas, Guk, and maybe I'll consider." Jimin's expression remains indifferent, but his eyes are twinkling with laughter. Jeongguk chews at his bottom lip, thinking for a moment. When he peeks at Jimin cautiously, Jimin makes a noncomittal gesture, as if he's saying, 'whenever you're ready.'
Jeongguk takes a deep breath, shakes out his limbs, and clears his throat for good measure. Then he begins in a dramatic baritone, "The moments I spent with you were all brilliant. Because the weather was good, because the weather wasn't good, because the weather was good enough. Every moment was—" Jeongguk stops when Jimin whacks the side of his head.
"I didn't mean actually recite lines from a drama, you smartass! I take it back! Give me the rings, you don't deserve them!" Jimin reaches for Jeongguk's right coat pocket, where the rings have made their temporary home. Jeongguk reacts quickly, scooping the rings into his hand and moving the same hand above his head in one fluid movement. Jimin spares him one look before jumping with all his might, his fingers barely brushing Jeongguk's wrist.
"Give it! Jeon Jeongguk, don't you dare use my height to your advantage!" Jimin has his hands on Jeongguk's shoulders, using them as leverage to hop higher, but his hands don't come close to Jeongguk's clenched fist. Jimin is breathing heavily and whining about how I'm the hyung, not you, you inconsiderate asshole, and an affectionate smile creeps onto Jeongguk's lips.
Jeongguk grabs Jimin's wrist with his free hand and interlaces their fingers together, successfully stopping Jimin in his tracks, and drops the rings back into his coat pocket before placing his other hand on their joined hands. In a soft voice, Jeongguk says, "Every moment was beautiful." Jimin is staring at him with wide eyes, and it makes Jeongguk nervous, even though they both know what's coming next.
"Be my boyfriend, hyung. I really like you." Then he adds cheekily, "And I know you like me too, so might as well say yes." Jimin hits him lightly on the shoulder for the unnecessary addition, but he's smiling the 'you're an idiot but i still adore you' smile, and Jeongguk knows he said the right thing.
"I'll be your boyfriend in hopes that you'll treat me better," Jimin says, sniffing haughtily. "What about the rings, though?
"They can be promise rings. I wouldn't mind us getting married someday, just to let you know." Jeongguk pulls the rings out of the coat pocket, the silver glinting in the fading sunlight. He takes Jimin's hand in his, slips the smaller band onto his ring finger, and slides the other band onto his own. Jimin wiggles his finger experimentally and startles when he realizes it fits snugly, and looks at Jeongguk to find him gazing fondly at him. By instinct, Jimin shoves Jeongguk's head to the side and ruffles his hair, which draws a strangled 'Hyung!' from Jeongguk's lips.
Embarrassed, Jimin does the first thing that comes to mind.
"First one to the front of the apartment gets to choose what we have for dinner!" With that, Jimin bolts, leaving fresh snow in his wake and a certain Jeon Jeongguk chasing after him.